Big Island Leads Country as First County-Wide Blue Zone

The Big Island is celebrating this weekend. Hawaiʻi County will become the first county in the United States to receive a Blue Zones designation. The Blue Zones health initiative launched in East and North Hawaiʻi in 2015, and is already seeing results. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

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Blue Zones West Hawaii Kickoff

82-year-old Theresa Zendejas of Pāhoa lost nearly 50 pounds from embracing the lifestyle changes of the Blue Zones Project.

82-year-old Theresa Zendejas is one of the Blue Zones Project's most vocal advocates.

Credit Blue Zones Project - Big Island

"Being heavy, oh man. My back was killing me. Killing me," says Zendejas, "When I started losing the weight, I was able to move."

She planted herself a garden, walks regularly, and tries to convince everyone around her to do the same.

"M-O-V-E. I said you move, you eat healthy, and you gonna live longer and not only this, but you start feeling better about yourself," says Zendejas, "and even my husband said you know, 'Honey, you have a waistline now!'”

Kirstin Kahaloa is with Blue Zones and is helping launch the project in West Hawaiʻi.

Dan Buettner (Right) poses with Maui's Richard Shim who's 85 years were fueled with a daily dose of tofu and 100 push-ups.

Credit Blue Zones Project - Hawaii

"So the Blue Zones Project about 10 years ago was developed by Dan Buettner who as a National Geographic Fellow was asked to travel around the world and find all the places where people were living the longest and healthiest," says Kahaloa.

Okinawa, Japan, is home to the longest-living women on earth, according to Buettner's research. Okinawans are active walkers and eat a plant-based diet.

Residents of Ikaria, Greece, live eight years longer than Americans, have half the rate of heart disease and almost no dementia. Ikarians routinely walk to their neighbor's house or work in their yards.

Credit Blue Zones

"So the goal of the Blue Zones Project is to emulate this research," says Kahaloa, "We do free cooking demonstrations so community members can understand how to cook healthy options. We have gardening demonstrations because we want people to you know move naturally in a garden that’s right behind their house or on their porch."

"I got food in my yard!" says Zendejas, "I have enough food that I can actually go out into my yard and get whatever I want and either do a salad or do an egg omelet with just what's in my yard."

Zendejas promoting home gardening at a Blue Zones Project event.

Credit Blue Zones Project - Big Island

Blue Zones focuses on systemic change at the grassroots level – where people are already living and working. Kahaloa is kicking off the Blue Zones Project in West Hawaiʻi this weekend at Kona Commons. Hawaiʻi County Councilman Dru Mamo Kanuha represents Central Kailua-Kona.

Hawaii County Councilman Dru Mamo Kanuha representing West Hawai'i as the community receives the official Blue Zones designation.

Credit Blue Zones Project - Big Island

"We host world-class canoe paddling, golf, tennis. We have the ironman triathlon event. You know? Our residents embrace active outdoor recreation," says Councilman Kanuha, "With the Blue Zones Project, we can continue learning and working together to make our island even healthier."

"Being the first county-wide initiative, we’re definitely going to serve as a future model," says Kahaloa, "Hawaiʻi Island the work that the Blue Zones Project does on this island through communities across the state but also across the country."

"Its not so much living longer with me. I just want to be healthy," says Zendejas, "You know, I just try to say, 'Hey, if an 82-year-old lady can do it,' You know? 'Come on you guys.'"

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